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Governors ask for clearer rules on section communications to legislators; governance committee appointments pending
Summary
Governors discussed rules governing what WSBA sections may convey to legislators, expressing concern that section comments attached to WSBA letters could be perceived as official association positions. Governors also asked about the status of a governance committee created earlier.
Governor Ahern said sections’ communications to legislators should be governed by clear, consistent rules so that technical or section-level comments are not mistaken for the Washington State Bar Association’s official position. “I do think we should have clear rules because I think the same rule should apply to all sections,” Ahern said, and added that sections have felt rules were not applied equally.
Kevin Fay described the existing legislative process, saying proposed legislative positions go to a legislation committee for a case-by-case risk analysis and that the process can produce results that not all sections like. “We have a process. It goes up to a legislation committee, who works pretty hard on, doing a risk analysis on a case by case basis,” Fay said.
Fay also asked about a previously adopted motion to form a governance committee. Executive Director (unnamed) said appointments are being worked on and that a meeting will be scheduled once appointments are complete.
Why it matters: governors expressed concern that section letters or technical comments sent to legislators, if attached to WSBA letterhead, could be interpreted as WSBA policy. The discussion sought clarity to ensure consistent application of rules across sections and to protect the association’s legislative program from inconsistent messaging.
Discussion versus direction: governors asked staff and leaders to clarify rules and to ensure sections and legislators understand the organization’s legislative program and how section comments are represented. No formal motion or vote was recorded at the roundtable directing rule changes.
Ending: governors were told governance committee appointments are forthcoming and that the committee will convene after appointments are complete; timing was not specified.
